From the UK desk

I picked up a bottle of this from Gerry's
http://www.martinezlacuesta.com/en/wines/vermouth-reserva Vermouth Lacuesta Reserva. Really rather fine red vermouth from Rioja in Spain. With some smokiness and citrus notes it makes a cracking Negroni and Boulevardier.

Quality ingredients and cocktails is clearly a thing in SE England now when the big supermarket chains are stocking a range of bitters, craft gins and such like. For instance, Waitrose now carry 1/2 bottles of Carpano Antica. M&S have their own brand of Cassis and most of the Fee bitters range. While even our local humble Tescos have Woodford Reserve, Gin Mare and Portobello Gin on the shelf. What's slightly odd is to see own brand "Finest London Gin" and "Finest Aromatic Gin" which I'm told is actually supplied by Greenalls. Then there's Heston Blumenthal Gin in Waitrose which is clearly aimed at my mother when buying christmas presents and is just plain wrong!

While I'm talking about Waitrose they have a truly exceptional Pedro Ximenez sherry. Only 21 quid a 1/2L but it's a solera with an average of over 30 years and lush. Is it Christmas yet? There's some white ports turning up as well. 

What we don't seem to have worked out though is rum. There's plenty of Havana club and Appletons going cheap, but little out of the ordinary. If you want something like Diplomatico you still have to go to the specialist shops.

Hic.